Improved rat-trap



. Warsaw mantena. w

. LttersrPa-tent No. 95,216, dated September 28, 1869.

`rlvrrncovfrsl: RAT-TRAP.

The Schedule referredl to ln these Letters Patent making part of thesame.

To all whom it muy concern: p Y Be it known that I, J. WARD FIFIELD, lofFranklin, in the county of Merrimack, and State ofv New Hampshire,haveinvented a newand improved Rat-Trap; and I do vhereby declare that thefollowing .isa full, clear, and exactdescription thereof', which willenable others skilled in the' art to malte, and use the same, referencebeing hadv to `the accompanying drawing, forming part of thisspecification.

The object'ofthisl invention is to 'provide an improved, simple,`andcheap rat-'tra ,It consists of a double-walledvessel, which may beeither square-or round, Withinclued passages between the walls, leading,fiom-openingsin the exterior wall, near the bottom, to the interiorchamber Ith rough other openings in the innerwalls, the interioropenings being provided with doors which open readily inward to theanimals seekirlgfingress,` but close eectuallyzagain'st theireiortstoget out. ,l

The said doors areLof peculiar construction, calculated to excitet'heanimals to enter, and armed with sharppins, to prevent their exit. y

`Figure 1 represents a sectionalllevation of my improved trap, taken on`the line zc-a: of fig. 2.

`Figure 2 represents a`plan view., ofthe same.

Similar letters ,of reference indicate corresponding parts. i

A represents an exterior vessel, of metal or wood, as preferred, andB,\an interior vessel, between the walls of which I propose to makeinclined ways, C, leading from exterior openings, D, through openingsinthe interior vessel' to an inner space, E

Each side-wallof the .inner vessel is extended beyondone corner, acrossthe space between the `two vessels to the wall of the outer one,as shownat F,'cross ing the inclnedways a short distance. beyond the exterioropenings D. At these-,crossings are openings, G,and inside of them,doors, H, are hinged, so as-to swing open inwardly. 'Similar doors arealso provided inside the passages I through the inner walls.

y The vertical parts of these doors project but 'a little belowtlieopenings, and are armed at their lower ends with sharp-pointed teeth, K,projecting horizontally 4from'the walls upon which the doors hang.

The doors are also provided with canvas, or other similar curtains, L,to close the passages, but yield readily to the rste'orts oftheanimalsto enter, and to hide the points, and prevent` them from annoyingthe animals until they` get too far in to retreat, which the said pointswill prevent in a way well understood.

The bottom of the interior vessell may be provided with water orpoisonous substances, for destroying the animals, anda` tilting-plane,M,may be placed above thev bottom', to induce the animals to jump downfrom the tables placed' under the passages through the walls ofthe innervessels.

In a square-formed trap, four of these passages O may be provided fromthe exterior openings D most conveniently, with a similar number ofopenings through the interior wails. But-if circular traps be used, anypreferred number of passages may be used which the size of the vesselwill permit.l y f f In'either` case','two of the self-closing doors areinterposed between-the animals and freedom after entering the interiorspace, effectnally preventing escape. Atrap-door or slide maybe providedin the bottom, for the removal of the animals, as required.

Having thus described my invention, f What I claim as new, and desire`to secure by Letters Patent, is- The combination of the double walls,swinging doors, covered pins, and suitable conducting-ways, as and forthe purpose specified.

J. WARD FIFIELD.

Witnesses N. H. SANBRN, 'DAVID E. BROWN.

